“Playing the Bass VI is a really strange experience – a truly unique instrument”: Squier Limited Edition Classic Vibe Bass VI review
Guitar World Verdict
A unique instrument with a feel and voice all of its own, the Squier Classic Vibe Bass VI is the perfect choice for the experimental guitarist who wants to be inspired by something different.
Pros
- +
Can handle both bass and guitar duties.
- +
Sounds like nothing else.
- +
Surprisingly playable given the scale.
- +
Tremolo holds tuning really well.
Cons
- –
It’s quite a niche instrument with potentially limited appeal.
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Some small QC issues with our model.
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What is it?
Is it a bass? Is it a guitar? Ask around and you’ll get different answers, but one thing’s for sure, the Squier Limited Edition Classic Vibe Bass VI is one of the most unique instruments I’ve ever had my hands on.
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| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Build quality | Overall solid, with some small flaws | ★★★★☆ |
| Playability | A hybrid of bass and guitar | ★★★★☆ |
| Sounds | Versatile yet very niche | ★★★★½ |
| Overall | A unique instrument with a select use case | ★★★★☆ |
Gretsch G5260 Electromatic Jet Baritone – $549/£485
The Bass VI is a really unique instrument, but the next closest thing to it would be a baritone guitar. The Gretsch G5260 features a similar scale length at 29.75 inches, but the tuning and feel are much closer to that of an electric guitar than a bass.
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 – $999/£849
Able to reach the same E1 tuning as the Bass VI the Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8 is very much the polar opposite in terms of pickups and styling. That said, if you want to get low and heavy, then it’s a brilliant choice for heavy music lovers.
Fender Player II Mustang Bass – $799/£669
Why bother with an instrument that can’t decide what it wants to be when you can get low-end playability and punchy tones via a short-scale bass? The Fender Player II Mustang Bass features a comfortable 30-inch scale, delivering bass guitar tone that’s plenty playable.
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Matt is a Junior Deals Writer here at Guitar World. He regularly tests and reviews music gear with a focus on guitars, amps, pedals, modelers, and pretty much anything else guitar-related. Matt worked in music retail for 5 years at Dawsons Music and Northwest Guitars and has written for various music sites including MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Guitar.com, Ultimate Guitar, and Thomann’s t.blog. A regularly gigging guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing live and writing and recording in bands, he’s performed everything from jazz to djent, gigging all over the country in more dingy venues than you can shake a drop-tuned guitar at.
